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October 11, 2003

An examination of the marketing tactics employed by the "Intelligent Design" movement

It has long been my focus in commenting upon "Intelligent Design" to consider the movement in light of their infamous "Wedge" document. While the established goals of Phase I of the Wedge include scientific research and publication it is well known that ID "theorists" and proponents have virtually ignored this aspect of their own manifesto and jumped wholeheartedly into pursuit of Phase II - "Publicity and Opinion-Making."

The promulgation of ID strategy can best be evaluated from a marketing perspective. Consideration of their tactics reveals an emphasis on repetition of particular talking points and a collective identification of areas of evolutionary science considered weak enough to be vulnerable to the sharp end of the wedge.

Anyone who has followed the issues will be familiar with quite a few of these talking points. "Teach the controversy," "academic freedom," and others receive mention just about any time an ID proponent speaks to the media. It has been my goal, with the series of papers listed below, to expose these examples of specious sloganeering as little more than intentionally deceptive rhetoric.

The "Grill the ID Guys" Event at Biola - An account of an evening spent with some of ID's top "theorists," in which the promise to answer "the toughest questions" is all but forgotten in favor of talking points and p.r. strategies. (Offsite at NCSE)

"Follow the evidence..." - One of the most popular complaints heard from ID adherents is the plea for scientists to be willing to just follow the evidence wherever it may lead. Despite the familiar wail for fairness, the argument is fatally flawed.